RAHB is considering introducing electronic lock boxes to our marketplace for our members. In order for their use to be effective, electronic lock boxes would need to be used by every RAHB member who lists properties and chooses to install a lock box.

Before we explore this we would like to obtain your level of interest in the idea of using electronic lock boxes.

Your personal security, the physical security of your seller’s property and contents, as well as ease of use and compatibility with modern digital business processes and RAHB’s MLS® System, are all reasons to consider exploring electronic lock boxes at this point in time.

We ask that you please take two minutes to answer four questions via our survey – use the Take the Survey link below.

The survey will be available until Thursday, May 24, 2018.

Please note that survey responses and participation are completely anonymous.

As a thank you for your participation, and if we receive one-third member participation for this survey, all members will be added to a draw for a $50 Tim Horton’s gift card.

Responses to this survey will be collected and provided to all members in an upcoming issue of our NewsReal e-newsletter. The winner of the Tim Horton’s gift card will also be announced at that time.

Thank you in advance for your participation. We value your feedback and strive to add value to your RAHB membership.

Following up on the introduction of RAHB’s new member value package, RAHB Advantage, we are pleased to welcome our first two partners: The Personal Insurance Company for group home and auto insurance and GoodLife Fitness.

The Personal has been one of Canada’s leading group insurance companies for over 40 years, and offers preferred group rates on home and auto insurance. Their rates are not available to the general public. We chose The Personal for their excellent reputation, long-term commitment to their customers and the benefits they can offer to you.

For more information or to see how much you can save on your home and auto insurance, contact The Personal at 1.888.476.8737 or thepersonal.com/rahb.

GoodLife Fitness is also offering RAHB members a reduced rate not offered to the general public.

Once you become a GoodLife member under this program, you may add up to four additional family members as members. Use your membership in over 280 fitness clubs across Canada, including 50 Energie Cardio Clubs in Quebec. You will have access to state-of-the-art cardio equipment, free weights and weight machines, and much more!

The cost: only $519 +HST per member per year, or $24 +HST per member bi-weekly.

I am very pleased to announce a new member-only value package – RAHB Advantage!

Through RAHB Advantage, we are partnering with a variety of local businesses that will be offering services at discounted prices not available to the general public.

The May 9 issue of NewsReal will include details about our first two partners – The Personal home and auto group insurance and GoodLife Fitness – as well as instructions on how to sign up for the services of your choice. With this member value package you are in control as these services are totally optional; you may register and use whichever services you need or want.

RAHB Advantage is just one more way your association adds value to your RAHB membership. Over the past year RAHB has rolled out a full data share with the regional real estate boards and associations, a new Matrix MLS® System, ShowingTime to automate the property showings process and now this member value package.

Stay tuned as we continue to add more partners to RAHB Advantage, and add even more value to your RAHB membership.

As of May 1, 2018, RAHB’s photographer, REAL Services, has changed its delivery platform. This has resulted in the following changes for members requesting photos through Matrix:

As of May 1, 2018, members will no longer be billed through their RAHB account for photos and virtual tours produced by REAL Services. Invoices will be issued by REAL Services directly to members.

Between May 1 and May 31, REAL Services will continue to take front and back photos requested through Matrix. REAL Services will send invoices directly to members during this time.

After May 31, the option to request photographs through Matrix will be discontinued – the Photographer’s Instructions field will no longer be available.

After May 31, all photography and virtual tours will need to be arranged with and paid for by members directly with service providers.

Please note that REAL Services will still be available as a photography/virtual tour service – please contact them at 905.319.9399 or via e-mail at photos@realservices.ca. Other real estate photo and virtual tour services are available in our area; a Google search for “real estate photo services (city/town) Ontario” yields a sizable number of service providers.

If you have any questions about this change in photography service, please contact our MLS® Department at 905.667.4650 or support@rahb.ca.

As of May 1, 2018, RAHB’s photographer, REAL Services, is changing its delivery platform. This will result in the following changes for members requesting photos through Matrix:

As of May 1, 2018, members will no longer be billed through their RAHB account for photos and virtual tours produced by REAL Services. Invoices will be issued by REAL Services directly to members.

Between May 1 and May 31, REAL Services will continue to take front and back photos requested through Matrix. REAL Services will send invoices directly to members during this time.

After May 31, the option to request photographs through Matrix will be discontinued – the Photographer’s Instructions field will no longer be available.

After May 31, all photography and virtual tours will need to be arranged with and paid for by members directly with service providers.

Please note that REAL Services will still be available as a photography/virtual tour service – please contact them at 905.319.9399 or via e-mail at photos@realservices.ca. Other real estate photo and virtual tour services are available in our area; a Google search for “real estate photo services (city/town) Ontario” yields a sizable number of service providers.

If you have any questions about this change in photography service, please contact our MLS® Department at 905.667.4650 or support@rahb.ca.

When you move it is important that your new address is updated with RAHB.

Why? Members have experienced issues when they use their credit card to pay their RAHB account. The address on their account (which comes from their membership records) does not match the address the credit card company has on file, and so their payment is declined.

To avoid this happening to you, please ensure that your address is up to date with RAHB. You can contact one of our corporate services staff, or log in to your Single Sign On (SSO) dashboard at my.rahb.ca, click on “Education/Account Services”, then click on View/Update Personal Information and update your own information.

Thank You to Our Sponsor:

Have you ever thought about RAHB meetings and events as a service to you?

RAHB membership meetings are held at least twice a year: the Annual General Meeting is held every March and the Annual Election Meeting is held in late November or early December. These are important meetings, where you can learn more about, and have a say in, the business of the Association.

Your Association goes far beyond those two business meetings to offer you opportunities to learn more about current issues, to participate in discussions with the RAHB leadership and other members, and to meet with your fellow REALTORS® to network and/or support great causes. These meetings and events support RAHB’s focus on member development, member service, member engagement and member enablement.

RAHB meetings and events reach far and wide to ensure that members in all of RAHB’s market area have opportunities to participate. And the areas of focus are many, including education, specializations, and community and charitable works. Members can enjoy many of these events for free or for a nominal fee, and they always provide a great return!

Have a look at the RAHB member meetings and events that will take place before the end of 2017. Why not make it a goal to attend one, two or more? You will meet your colleagues in a great environment, will have supported your community, and you will be more informed to better serve your clients.